There are at least 515 “Citizen Beer Bloggers” in North America, according to the organizers of the Beer Bloggers Conference.
In “The State of Beer Blogging” they write, “We define citizen beer bloggers as those who blog about beer or the beer industry and whose blog is not designed to promote a brewery or other business. There are another 45 beer examiners on examiner.com, at least 78 English-language beer blogs in other countries, and probably hundreds of brewery-related beer blogs. These statistics compare to an estimated 1000 wine blogs and 12,000 food blogs.”
I’m not sure how “other business” might be defined since many of the blogs on their extensive list have advertising or promote something (like Brew Like a Monk).
That’s really an aside. Sure the overview was assembled to promote the Nov. 5-7 Beer Bloggers Conference, but it has plenty of useful information and usable tips for any blogger. That and the most recent update about the conference agenda make it clear the gathering will be about more than drinking beer and tweeting.
Personally, I’m still thinking about what this tidbit might mean: “If there is no established trade for beer journalism, the public might easily seek out beer bloggers for advice.” I was under the impression there is a trade for beer journalism and that blogging was just another branch.
Virtual Colorado Beer Tasting. It’s tonight, at 7:30 p.m. and organized by Zephyr Adventures, planner of the Beer Bloggers Conference. Both Oskar Blues and Breckenridge Brewery recently sent emails asking fans to participate (Facebook, Twitters, blogs) through their own sites or gather at brewery pages. (I know, this sounds awfully confusing but – for instance – you could follow Breckenridge on Facebook or Twitter [BreckBrew] or use a hashtag on Twitter.) You can read more about the plan here, although as I type this the page says that 7:30 Mountain is the same at 9 Eastern. No, it’s 9:30.
British beer: Booming or boring? Seventy-eight new breweries have opened in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months, for a net gain of 56 breweries. So things are booming, right? Writing in The Independent, Will Hawkes does not take it easy on British brewers: “Maybe, maybe not. The growing popularity of American beers in the UK suggests that things are not quite so rosy. The innovative, hop-heavy character of Yank beers is clearly filling a gap in the market, a gap that British brewers have failed to fill.” He points to Meantime and BrewDog as exceptions, but there are many more – Thornbridge and Marble for starters.
Beer apps. Evan Benn recently compiled a list for mobile apps for beer drinkers. I’m already getting enough press releases about other new apps, so it could be dangerous to acknowledge any of them. However, credit to Beerby because they added an Android version (not so much credit because their splash page has you looking for Pabst Blue Ribbon). And I have to mention the Belgian Beer Tour in Brussels not because, to be honest, I know if it is worth $2.99 but because it is Brussels. Reviews of either are welcome.
Darn. I didn’t make the cut. I guess I’m not North American enough.
Joe,
I guess that means I am more American than you, and that after only 1 years here! I often wonder whether I am a British beer blogger who lives in the States or an American beer blogger who happens to be British? And let’s not bring up the Czech background that gave rise to Fuggled. I like Tandleman’s description of “Czech, Yankee and More”.
I find it interesting that the conference organizers are pushing beer bloggers to be local. To what end?
“I find it interesting that the conference organizers are pushing beer bloggers to be local. To what end?”
Alan, in the context of blog after blog reviewing beer after beer, I assumed to be local meant to be more useful.
Agreed, Joe. I think STL Hops is the best local beer blog around, covering both local beer and beer from afar (available locally).
I was thinking more like – “you talk about wahat is near you, leave the big themes to others… likes us.” But if local is local… are you “local” Stan? I have been very local this week. Won’t keep it up, though.
But if it is more “useful” I am all for that – except euphemisms for useful are beyond irony. Honestly, my first reaction when I got the 515 beer blogs email was something to the effect of “good lord… who would read #80 to #515”? My second remains – who the hell would go to a conference about beer blogging? Think of all the good beer the costs of travel and being there would buy. Plus I remember all the blogging conferences of 2004-2005. It just got sad after a while.
Alan – I’m probably more “loco” than “local.” Next week I’ll be local for people who are in Denver. In October I’ll be local for people in Houston.
That’s why I’m only occasionally useful. STL Hops is useful every day.
I’m more comfortable with you being quite useful – universally.
But I have to say, I don’t understand your “amore Saint Lousian.” That blog looks like a list of commercial PR. I have no issue making a buck but surely there is more to writing well about beer than lists of available beers at various establishments? What is it you are seeing that I’m not?
This post nicely summarizes how it serves the community. Not just the blog but the discussion boards.
Obviously, I hope that asking beer related questions serves some purpose other than amusing you and I. I don’t think there needs to be one template for blogs.
“My second remains – who the hell would go to a conference about beer blogging?”
I won’t be able to go, being geographically impaired. But I like the idea of going just because I like the idea of going out and drinking with a bunch of other beer bloggers.
I have to admit, Joe, it is not beer that has turned me off such night rallies over a topic but my teen radio club nerd days – not to mention being a lawyer. Gives me the yips to be in the company of only the like minded. Can’t wait for the months’ long wave of homogeneity that will be sprung from attendance at the seminars.
I see what you say about the Forum, Stan, and that is like Ontario’s Bar Towel. I am long past trying to define blogging but, to dip back to 2004, it does strike me as having to be a personal statement with some measure of reflection – a diary. STL Hops looks like a very good local beer website / web newsletter that promotes the cause but it isn’t a blog.
True that using blog software does not make a blog. And when I started this one it was with the idea of writing something reflective – like once a week, because I only have so many interesting thoughts in my head.
But for whatever reason Google ranks my .com much higher as a beer site than as a beer blog. I think it may be because I screwed up and put the blog in its own directory, rather than on the front page.
Ah, nature-of-blogging discussion, perhaps the most common subject across all blogs. I no longer have much of an opinion. The lines blur too much between the formerly mainstream media and new media. MSM sites looks like blogs, blogs looks mainstream, bloggers go pro, pros blog, and they all write about similar things in myriad ways.
Blogs do work best when they work in tandem. No single blog is a complete source of nutrition. One blogger covers events, one offers reviews, another thoughtful commentary. In order to get a balanced meal, you need one of each. For this reason, a blogger’s conference makes sense. It’s good to meet your colleagues, especially ones writing about beer in other parts of the country where the scene, local culture, and beers are different. I won’t be going, but I think it’s a good idea.
And I have to dissent–Beervana is clearly the best beer blog in the world. It features the finest half-informed opinion, smudgy photos, and false rumors available on the internet. In other words, blogging perfection.
Hah! I like to think that I am the greatest beer blog based on volume and… errr… thematic brownness.
Good points, though, Jeff. Very hard to say what is and what is a blog. Harder than in 2004. Twitter and Facebook are the real screw ups. Who would have thought they would be the killer apps, expect their founders. But for a conference to work for me it needs to exist on line. You can’t get a balance when the right of entry is that high a travel budget.
That is why I still miss the RSBS aggregator. While the my personal Google reader does have a load of access to the writing of others, I have no idea what I am missing. That simple central aggregator did more to spin off shared and cross referencing dialogue blog to blog than ten beer blog conferences might. Nothing against going but its not obvious to me that it would help nearly as much as another central message post of sorts.
Hi guys,
Two quick points. First, we have no desire to push local blogs. We simply posted the North American blogs because that list is complete. We will be releasing our list of non-North American beer bloggers when it is more up to date. However, you make a good point and I don’t see any reason we can’t just combine all the blogs into one list for the web.
Second, not everyone will be interested to attend the conference but as Stan points out, it is definitely not just about socializing and beer drinking. It is about learning. Check out the agenda. I can tell you that we have great success with our wine and food blogger conferences.
Allan Wright
Beer Bloggers Conference
Hey Allan! If it does work out consider regionalizing the idea in future years. Too many of us are too far away. Or making a digital experience. I may not personally wish to get in a room of other bloggers after dropping $2,000 for the flight, hotel, food and fees but I may not mind if the drive and stay ended up costing $500. Drop one in Montreal for the US NE and Ontario fans and it would probably be packed.